Morris tribune., 1887-04-06
FARM NOTES.
Selected from American Agnculturist.

selected from american AgrlcuIturiSt.
We advise every farmer to keep
lees, not only for the money it may
bril- K, but for the qualification of his
family. We advise It, a. we do the
growing Of an abundance of straw
berries, grapes, etc.--as one Of the
ties to attach children to the farm,
by making ii the best place OH earth.
We also advise it for its Influence up
on the young, in teaching them to OBJ.
serve. Still, the main reason for
keeping bees is, the "sweet TOOTH" II
that be gratified. all other benefits
will follow. The way to begin bee
keeping, is to begin small. If Que
procures single colony, in II modern
movable comb-hive, and by the aid
ofone Of the standard works (such as
Quinby's) cares for that colony and
it's increase during the season, it will
enable him to manage many hives,
and which will enable him, if he
should SO elect, to keep bees for profit.
One piece of advice should be needed
by all beginners: Do not begin bee
keeping unless with the determine
ton to give it that thought and care
which will make il success. Moth.
ing can be more unprofitable and de.
moralizing than a neglected apiary.
Begin, then, with single hive.
II We go out upon the prairies,
where the foot of q white man has
never trod, aud little but the prairie
grasses can be seen, only an OCCASION
| al weed or flower is found. But when
once this virgin soil is broken up OF
disturbed, Dame Nature will here as
elsewhere, strive to coYer the max -
ness of the soil with rs dense growth
Of weeds rs ever furnished employ
ment to the tiller of the soil. One Pc
cullarity will be noticsd-the first and
about the only weed to appear the
year after breaking IS the pig weed
| and this seems to spring up spon-
turbed. The next year comes the
fire weed, tumble weed, and q host
of others. An examination of the seed
of the fire weed will show that it is
especially formed for travelling, aud
our prairie breezes furnish just the
right motive power. AS to the tumble
weeds, any one who has spent an
autumn on the prairies Gun only
wonder that there are not more OF
them growing. Looking out over the
prairies in the fall, ona windy day,
thousands can be seen rolling and
jumping in every direction, and scat.
tering their seeds as they go. If the
top soil is broken two or three inches
deep, and the sods are taken off
scarcely a pig weed will be found on
that ground for several years, but the
other weeds will take possession first
The seeds of the pig weed are, nc
doubt, brought from long distances by
the winds and remain dormant for 9
long time, until the ground be put in
a suitable condition for their germina.
ton and growth.
Many farmers say there is no profit
In raising oats, yet others find them q
profitable crop. If the market price
OF the grain is not profitable, the
price paid for young stock always is.
The farmer who sells oats and feeds
his CALVES, pigs. lambs and colts all
corn, or nearly so, makes d mistake.
Not few men find oats Improbable
because they do not feed them, or do
not feed them properly; yet more be-
cause they do not get the full value OF
the straw. If oats are cut five DAYS
earlier than is the common practice,
the straw is worth for feeding two
thirds of its weight of timothy hay,
and this earlier cutting increases,
rather than diminishes, the value OF
the grain. Ofcourse the straw must
be kept bright. fit is not cut until
il is dead ripe" and then piled up az
ter threshing to bleach and rot, it is
not worth much for feed. But the
cutting, curing and feeding being
equally favorable, three pounds OF
oat straw are worth as much for win
ter feeding as two pounds of hay.
True the other articles fed must have
more albuminoids than when hay is
fed, but this does not increase the
cost of the ration. The biggest price
for oats is realized by cutting the
crop when most farmers would pro.
nounce it green, curing it nicely, then
store in NOW or under barracks, and
feed grain and straw together after
running through cutter and moisten-
ing. Cutting oats little early, also
reduces the chances Of their lodging,
and their liability to lodge is the most
serious objection to them by farmers
who have soil rich in nitrogen and
rather deficient in silica-a very poor
soil for all grains.